Proud ambassador of the QRM women’s section, which bears her name, Viviane Asseyi granted us an exclusive interview. French international and player who has played for very big clubs, now playing for West Ham, she is a real source of inspiration for all of our players. During this interview, discover her view of our Red & Yellow, as well as her vision of the development of women’s football. Many thanks once more to Viviane for the time she gave us, and that she devotes to us whenever she visits us at the Stade Lozai.
Photo credits : West Ham United
“Any club that creates its women’s section, it makes me happy for women’s football. But obviously, I’m from Quevilly, the section bears my name, so it’s a source of pride.”
Viviane, first of all, how are you? How was your season at West Ham?
VA: I’m fine, thank you. It’s nice to have a holiday. Having the last World Cup and then the championship following that, it was very long, exhausting. The season with West Ham wasn’t what we imagined…
Indeed, you finished eleventh out of twelve teams competing in your championship. How did you experience it on an individual level?
VA: It’s frustrating, we didn’t know how to kill our matches. There are plenty of matches that we might have won if we had been efficient. Especially since we felt that our opponents feared us, which says a lot. I think it’s not what we deserved, but that’s football.
Your extension has just been announced. You are now 30 years old, how do you see the continuation and end of your career? Are you already thinking regarding what comes next?
VA: I am someone who lives day by day, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I really don’t worry regarding that. Of course, I have some ideas, I even have some opportunities already. It will come when it comes. For now, I think it’s not the time to think regarding that.
Is a return to France possible?
VA: I’m not closing the door to anyone, in fact I might have returned to France this year. It’s a personal choice. I’m happy where I am at the moment. After that, you never know. I always said that I would never go and play in Germany, I ended up at Bayern Munich. I always told myself that one day I would go and play in Spain, I never played there… So I live day by day!
You were born in Mont-Saint-Aignan, but also and above all ambassador of the QRM women’s section. How did you learn of our first team’s promotion to D3F? How did you feel?
VA: I learned regarding it on social media. I do my best to follow it as much as possible, even if it’s difficult with football and my current lifestyle. I’m happy because I’ve been following it all since the beginning. Besides, any club that creates its women’s section, it makes me happy for women’s football. But obviously, I’m from Quevilly, the section bears my name, so it’s a source of pride. I hope and I’m sure that they will continue to rise, it’s just a step.
We see you very active on women’s social networks, you are obviously attached to the club. Do you find time to chat with certain people from the Association to keep up to date with the news?
VA: I was still in Lozai three days ago, with my mother. We came to the club to get news. I met coach Chekkal and Thomas Tiarci. It’s important to keep in touch. In this case, it’s mainly my mother who keeps him since she lives there, she takes over with me. I’m open when people talk to me, and I do my best, but it’s true that I have a lot of things to do with football. As soon as I have time, I throw myself fully behind the girls.
“We feel that we are much more considered. People who were not interested in women’s football are starting to watch us, and there are more and more young players in the clubs.”
Now that the girls are in D3F, they will necessarily have to raise their level. With your experience as an international player, having played in big clubs, what advice would you give them to take the next step?
VA: First of all, don’t worry. It’s just football. If the girls play, it’s first and foremost for their own personal pleasure, we must never forget that. Now, it’s certain that it requires a lot of work, you have to have a strong mentality. They probably already have it, getting to D3 is not easy. I think we have to keep working, keep up the efforts, and have ambition. I’m sure they want to go up once more, to D2 and why not to D1. That would be good for the club as well as for the girls. In any case, Youcef is someone ambitious. I felt it when I spoke with him. He has done good for the club, just what he has done this year is incredible.
Concerning yourself, in which areas do you feel you have progressed the most since the beginning of your career?
VA: I would say mental strength, even though I have always had it since I went to Clairefontaine. It was not easy to leave my parents at 14, not everyone does that. My whole football has changed, I made mistakes that I don’t make anymore. I continue to learn every day.
Let’s end this discussion with an opening on the evolution of women’s football on an international scale. There is more and more enthusiasm around the discipline, many media have started to talk regarding it. Has this had an impact on your daily life? What do you think are the next steps to take?
VA: I saw what was done in France with the Premier League – formerly D1 Arkema – I think it’s good. I’m sure they can do even more. The fact that the League is professional is already something strong. There are still a lot of things to do. It involves communication, bringing people to the stadiums, making people want to come and watch women’s football. It has already evolved a lot in recent years. I’m not worried regarding what’s happening in France, I think they’re doing everything they can to continue to progress.
It is true that women’s football is, rightly so, taking up more and more space in our society…
VA: We feel that we are much more highly regarded, both at home and abroad. Major competitions like the World Cup in France, the Euro in England and recently the World Cup in Australia have contributed to this. People who weren’t interested in women’s football are starting to watch us, and there are more and more young players in the clubs. It’s a whole. The federations are giving more resources to the clubs and the national teams, mentalities have changed. When I see what’s happening in England, Germany, Spain, even Italy, I’m sure that this is only the beginning. Everyone is getting involved!
The women’s section has its own social networks, on the Facebook page et son Instagram which we encourage you to follow so as not to miss any of their news.
